Royals Hold on to Defeat Augsburg in Homecoming Game

One year ago Bethel University's football squad rained on
Augsburg College's homecoming parade with a 21-20 victory, but the
Royals refused to let the Auggies return the favor Saturday, as BU
held on to defeat Augsburg 31-28 during Bethel's homecoming game at
Royal Stadium.The No. 5-ranked Royals (4-0, 2-0 MIAC) held Augsburg
quarterback Ayrton Scott to just 276 total yards of offense, which
is quite the feat as Scott led the nation with an average of 390.3
yards per game. The Auggies (3-1, 2-1 MIAC)
limited Brandon
Marquardt, who had been averaging 14.0 points per
game, but it was Marshall
Klitzke that stepped up Saturday with 109
yards on 24 carries and two touchdowns — one rushing and one
receiving.

Erik
Peterson and Reese
Walker started the scoring in Saturday's
contest, as the two connected for a 23-yard touchdown that capped
an 11-play, 82-yard drive in Bethel's opening series. Peterson's
pump fake created space between Walker and the closest defender,
and the ball was placed perfectly into Walker's hands in the back
of the end zone.

The Auggies proved why they were unbeaten coming
into Saturday's matchup, as they marched down the field on the
ensuing drive in 3:34 and scored a 16-yard touchdown via a Phil
Putratz rush. Augsburg, who didn't convert a two-point conversion
attempt in 2012 that could've won the Auggies the game against the
Royals, went for two on the point after and converted with a fake
PAT that found the tight end open in the end zone.Trailing for the first time this year, Bethel immediately
went back to work—scoring a touchdown on the very next
series. Marshall
Klitzke carried the ball into the end
zone—this time from three yards out—completing a
10-play, 68-yard drive that lasted 4:57.

The Royals had the opportunity to create space later in the
frame, but an interception at the Augsburg 30-yard-line thrown
by Erik
Peterson— his first of the year —
gave the Auggies the ball. Following a 44-yard return on the
interception, Augsburg then went three plays and 21 yards to score
the equalizer with 9:43 left in the half. A missed PAT attempt kept
the score even at 14-14.

Neither team put up any more points throughout the second
quarter, resulting in a tie at the half. However, the third quarter
belonged to the Royals. Bethel received the kick to start the half
and drove 65 yards on the opening series, which was finished with a
seven-yard touchdown pass from Peterson to Klitzke.

Peterson wasn't done throwing, as the Orono, Minn., native
helped the Royals score seven more on their next possession.
Bethel's quarterback finished the possession with a 38-yard heave
to senior receiver Jay
Hilbrands to put BU ahead 28-14.

Bethel's defense was sensational in the third quarter,
holding the Auggies scoreless, which gave the Royals some necessary
cushion. BU finished its scoring with what turned out to be the
game-winning field goal by Andrew
O'Reilly with 13:31 remaining in the game to
put Bethel ahead 31-14.

"We're a pretty close-knit group and you feed off each
other," Bethel coach Steve Johnson said. "Our offense came out and
had a great drive, a pretty long one, then we got them
(three-and-out) and went again. You kind of have the game under
control."

The Auggies didn't go away quietly, though, scoring 14
unanswered points in the final minutes of the game. Yet, a gutsy
pass from Erik
Peterson to freshman tight
end Drew
Neuville on third and eight with under two
minutes remaining sealed the victory for the Royals.

Bethel finished the game with 23 first downs and 401 yards
of total offense. Erik
Petersonfinished the day 18-of-26 with 216
yards passing, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. Peterson
found eight different receivers, including Jay
Hilbrands, who caught three passes for 51 yards and
a touchdown and Reese
Walker, who caught the 23-yard touchdown in the
second drive of the game.

Marshall
Klitzke led all rushers with 109 yards and a
touchdown, while Brandon
Marquardtcarried the ball 13 times for 67 yards.
Augsburg's Ayrton Scott rushed for 90 yards, while throwing for 186
on 19-of-27 passing with two interceptions.

Bethel will face an unbeaten Concordia College next week in
Moorhead, Minn. The Cobbers, who will be celebrating homecoming
this week, fell victim to Bethel in BU's homecoming game last year,
in large part due to a late penalty with just a few ticks remaining
on the clock. The Royals scored a touchdown and two-point
conversion with no time left to defeat the Cobbs 15-14.